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Victor Wembanyama wins PBWA's Magic Johnson Award for 2025-26 season
Wembanyama wins the award for the 1st time, which is given to a player who best combines excellence on the court with cooperation and grace in dealing with the media and fans.
NBA.com Staff | Updated on April 16, 2026 7:26 PM
Victor Wembanyama led the NBA in blocked shots in the 2025-26 season.
Victor Wembanyama of the San Antonio Spurs has won the 2025-26 Magic Johnson Award, which honors the NBA player who best combines excellence on the court with cooperation and grace in dealing with the media and fans, the Professional Basketball Writers Association announced today.
Wembanyama averaged 25 points, 11.5 rebounds, 3.1 assists and a league-leading 3.1 blocks per game this season and was named an All-Star for the second time. Off the court, Wembanyama consistently fostered an atmosphere of mutual respect and openness with reporters who cover the NBA.
“Victor Wembanyama thoroughly embodies the spirit of this award – as a superstar who is just as thoughtful and engaging off the court as he is dominant on the court,” said PBWA president Howard Beck. “He is giving of himself, amiable and patient with reporters, and eager to discuss just about any subject – from the MVP race to social justice to the Northern Lights. As one of our members put it, Victor is ‘a deep thinker who understands the power of his words.’”
Beck added: “Even with the immense spotlight and expectations he faces daily, Victor consistently approaches his interviews with enthusiasm and a sense of humor. The day before he was drafted in 2023, Victor said his goal was to be the best in ‘all dimensions of the job,’ including ‘the best at the media, the press conference stuff.’ As he has on the court, he has more than lived up to his promise.”
Wembanyama is the first Spur to win the award and, at age 22, the youngest honoree since Kevin Durant (also 22) in 2011. Donovan Mitchell of the Cleveland Cavaliers finished second in the balloting, for the second straight year. The other finalists, based on nominations from PBWA members, were Stephen Curry of the Golden State Warriors, Jaylen Brown of the Boston Celtics and Giannis Antetokounmpo of the Milwaukee Bucks. A vote of the full PBWA membership determined the winner.
The award, created in 2001, is named in honor of Earvin “Magic” Johnson, the former Los Angeles Lakers star, who was consistently engaging, thoughtful and gracious with the media throughout his Hall of Fame career. The PBWA annually honors an NBA PR staff (Brian McIntyre Award), coach (Rudy Tomjanovich Award) and star player (Magic Johnson Award) who go above and beyond to work with the media and help inform fans. Under the PBWA’s current rules, adopted in 2020, no team or individual can win in consecutive years.
The PBWA is composed of more than 200 writers and editors who regularly cover the NBA and WNBA for newspapers, magazines and online news outlets.
Magic Johnson Award winners
2000-01 Ray Allen, Milwaukee Bucks
2001-02 Elton Brand, L.A. Clippers
2002-03 Jalen Rose, Chicago Bulls
2003-04 Jermaine O’Neal, Indiana Pacers
2004-05 Antawn Jamison, Washington Wizards
2005-06 Grant Hill, Orlando Magic
2006-07 Shane Battier, Houston Rockets
2007-08 Derek Fisher, Los Angeles Lakers
2008-09 Brandon Roy, Portland Trail Blazers
2009-10 Chris Bosh, Toronto Raptors
2010-11 Kevin Durant, Oklahoma City Thunder
2011-12 Steve Nash, Phoenix Suns
2012-13 Shane Battier, Miami Heat
2013-14 Dirk Nowitzki, Dallas Mavericks
2014-15 Pau Gasol, Chicago Bulls
2015-16 Stephen Curry, Golden State Warriors
2016-17 Damian Lillard, Portland Trail Blazers
2017-18 DeMar DeRozan, Toronto Raptors
2018-19 Dwyane Wade, Miami Heat
2019-20 Damian Lillard, Portland Trail Blazers
2020-21 N/A (pandemic)
2021-22 N/A (pandemic)
2022-23 Giannis Antetokounmpo, Milwaukee Bucks
2023-24 Stephen Curry, Golden State Warriors
2024-25 Kevin Durant, Phoenix Suns
2025-26 Victor Wembanyama, San Antonio Spurs
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